Address confusion for residential homes and businesses on Nueces Street/Highway 281 in George West was resolved by the George West City Council on June 19. There were five businesses and six residential homes that were addressed as being on Nueces Street for the city, but EMS had them identified as Highway 281.

Although Highway 281 and Nueces Street are basically the same stretch of paved road that brings traffic in from the north and south ends of town, this difference in address names was cause for confusion for responders unfamiliar with the area.

George West City Manager Sandra Martinez said EMS responders often rely on GPS and online maps to find locations and sometimes get lost.

Fortunately, 911 response was willing to change their maps to match whatever the council decided upon, according to Martinez.

But the council also didn’t want any residents or businesses to have to change their address.

“We’re trying to all be in accordance,” Martinez said.

As of June 21, Google Maps has the entire stretch of road south beyond Highway 59 and north past Milam Street labeled as both Nueces Street and Highway 281 at the same time. But when responding to a call, EMS could be looking for something identified as one or the other.

“It’s a nightmare actually,” Martinez said.

George West Chief of Police Rey Garcia said keeping the road as Highway 281 would be better for the police department since some of the deputies don’t know that Nueces Street and Highway 281 are the same.

The council decided to keep the stretch of road from Highway 59 to Milam Street as Highway 281, then everything between Highway 59 and Milam Street will remain as Nueces Street.